Handful a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

IN YOUR DAILY DOSE today is research from the University of Florida with information about a specific nut that will improve your health with just a handful each day.

IN MAKING CHANGES today are specific ways you can determine if you are healthy. Health is not only about the numbers on the scale. Instead, it’s a combination of many different factors.

IN FACT OR FICTION you’ll discover exactly why acid rain is dangerous to your health and not just the environment

In The News

In research from the University of Florida, scientists discovered the link between a handful of almonds and an improvement in Healthy Eating Index scores. A score less than 51 represents a poor diet; between 51 and 80 needs improvement and over 80 is good. Participants started with scores near 53 and improved to 61 at the end of the study.

Researchers theorized that salty and processed snacks were being replaced by the 1.5 ounces of almonds the participants were eating each day. Alyssa Burns, doctoral student at the center that performed the study was quoted in Science Daily, saying, "The habits you have when you are younger are carried into adulthood, so if a parent is able to incorporate almonds or different healthy snacks into a child's diet, it's more likely that the child will choose those snacks later on in life.”

Almonds are a good source of vitamin E, manganese, biotin, riboflavin, phosphorus, magnesium and copper. This massive amount of nutrients are packed with 9 grams of monounsaturated fats, 6 grams of protein and 3.5 grams of fiber. Loaded with antioxidants, they help to stabilize your blood sugar with the fat and fiber they contain. Almonds reduce your hunger, reduce your blood pressure and help to reduce your cholesterol levels.

Making Changes

Students in the study were soon bored eating almonds or almond butter each day. However, the habits we form as children often carry through adulthood. Crush almonds and use as breading for your fried chicken, grab a handful for a snack, eat almond butter instead of peanut butter, crush into your salads, or mix with dark chocolate for some tasty trail mix.

My Daily Affirmation

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How can I get my family to stop eating junk food?

2. How can I make healthier food choices at the grocery store?

3. What should I choose as healthy substitutes for my typical junk food?

It’s in the news, but what is it? Acid rain is any type of precipitation - including hail and snow! - that has high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. Most of it is because of human activities, including burning fossil fuels through coal-burning power plants, factories and cars. There are significant ecological effects to our lakes, streams, wetlands and other water areas. Acid rain makes the waters on the ear acidic, which causes them to absorb aluminum. This aluminum creeps into the soil and creates a toxic environment for all water animals and fish. We eat those animals and develop illnesses from toxins they carry.